Power DVD DX Bad Update?? Can no longer play Avatar Blu-Ray

Is this the Avatar EE version?

I have the avatar EE version and cannot play it as well.

Welcome to the Club. I do not understand why dell doesnt provide the software that comes with the Blue Ray Player and them create a modify scary broken version of Power Dvd.

I did have the same problem with Avatar. Now the instructions that I got was "to update the drivers". There are not drivers updates for this Dell crap.  

Avatar EE uses a new form of security and this could be the issue as opposed to a "problem" with an early version of powerdvd.

Uninstall PowerDVD and reinstall but do not update.

Since you idetified a problem with the update, I'm wondering why you reinstalled it.

And this is not a Dell problem but a general problem with all PCs that use blu-ray software. The HDCP stuff is clearly out of control and the best approach is to use one of the hacks that are becoming more widely available.

Just the standard edition of Avatar

I've tried reinstalling it and not updating it however it wont play and just asks me to update it

I think the updates might be acumulative so that its now its impossbile to update to the halfway stage when the disk did work.

I've identified thats its definatly a copy protection problem.

I find it annoying how copy protection prevents me from playing a legitimate disk I've spent money on and with legitimate software, and they wonder why people turn to piracy.

It's called HDCP, if you want to do some homework on the topic. There is plenty of help on cracking HDCP.

Sorted it. Got Dell to send me PowerDVD 9.5 still an OEM version but not as customized as PowerDVD DX 8.3

When will they learn? OEM version are a waste of time and money, both in making thm and sorting out the bugs.

I've just got the new Extended edition of Avatar and it won't play properly in my Studio 17 in Power DVD DX 8.3.....The symptoms are it starts to play and the intro is OK then it starts getting pixelated and jumpy and is unwatchable. Do you think this is the same issue?  Did you have to call DELL support to get the PowerDVD 9.5?  Thanks.

 "Dell Power DVD" is a disgrace. I just went to the store last black Friday and I got a Bluray Player for $50. Connected to the internet with a network cable and all updates came through without a problem. Forget to tell you that it does play the just new release of the movie in question Avatar. The DVD had internet connection soon we do not have to buy DELL to surf the internet. I have to complete forget about Dell if they do not support the proprietary software that they modify. I am pretty upset with DELL 100s spend and it is just good for a year. In the pass 10 years I get from Dell 2 Desktops and one Laptop. When Windows & rollout 2009 in November replace all my desktops and Laptos. I did try an HP and it is working pretty well with the added software. I cannot say the same with the Dell Media Center acquired at the same time.

"Dell Power DVD" is a disgrace. I just went to the store last black Friday and I got a Bluray Player for $50. Connected to the internet with a network cable and all updates came through without a problem. Forget to tell you that it does play the just new release of the movie in question Avatar. The DVD had internet connection soon we do not have to buy DELL to surf the internet. I have to complete forget about Dell if they do not support the proprietary software that they modify. I am pretty upset with DELL 100s spend and it is just good for a year. In the pass 10 years I get from Dell 2 Desktops and one Laptop. When Windows & rollout 2009 in November replace all my desktops and Laptos. I did try an HP and it is working pretty well with the added software. I cannot say the same with the Dell Media Center acquired at the same time.

I agree with you.  I bought a laptop, a desktop, an alienware laptop, and a new desktop.  I buy top of the line and spend about $5000 each time.  Looks like time to find a vendor with worthwhile support.

Seems like Power DVD 9.5 is the answer then?  I'll contact DELL and see if they will send me it.  Other options are buying software from ArcSoft or Slysoft.

I had the same problem with the same version of PowerDVD DX, and for me the solution was to disable my wireless Internet connection before trying to play the Avatar EE Blu-Ray. Then I could start the DVD, and it played correctly. Also, after the DVD was playing, I could re-enable the wireless Internet connection and surf the Internet while the DVD continued to play correctly.  A friend of mine has an Oppo B-83, and he couldn't play it until he disabled the BD-Live feature, which I believe uses an Internet connection. Hope this helps.

Thank you!

turning off the internet connection solve it for me.

Like you said, once it's playing, you can turn it on again, whoopee!